iiyamadude 6 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 It seems that one of the biggest operators in Madarao is under control of lawyers and will be bankrupt soon. They own the Sympathigue hotel and small ski-jo close to the main one at Madarao as well as about 4 other hotels and lots of facilities in Madarao. It's unclear as to what might be salvaged from all of that, but word on the street is to expect most of that lot to close down. This is not secret any more as it was on the local news. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Not good to hear. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 why is the Hotel called "Sympathetique" or whatever it is? Pretty shite name IMO Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I heard that Urasa is closing for next season. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted June 15, 2011 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted June 15, 2011 Yes, the news about Urasa is true.... we heard about that yesterday and it has been on the local news today. For those who don't know, Urasa is a very small resort in Minamiuonuma, to the north of Yuzawa...in the past famous for their famous ski school. In the 70's, some 150,000-160,000 skiers in a season, but last season less than 10,000 people went. Officially they are going into ä¼‘æ¢ mode. Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: iiyamadude It seems that one of the biggest operators in Madarao is under control of lawyers and will be bankrupt soon. They own the Sympathigue hotel and small ski-jo close to the main one at Madarao as well as about 4 other hotels and lots of facilities in Madarao. It's unclear as to what might be salvaged from all of that, but word on the street is to expect most of that lot to close down. This is not secret any more as it was on the local news. Sad news indeed. iiyamadude for the past tree years I have looked over to Madarao from Nozawa, Shiga & Myoko and have decided to stay there next Feb. I have heard there is a bus from Nagano station. Do you know how often it runs or if there is a timetable on-line (even if it is previous season). While I am picking your brain can you tell me how to pronounce Madarao? Is it 'mad are rayo'? Appreciate your input Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Just to be clear on the Mad-a-row. (row as in argument) It is not the main Madarao skijo or hotel that is closing. Mad numbers there about Urasa. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 It´s the old Toyoda resort is it? There were a few village owned ski resorts in Madarao, and they cooked the books (trying to hide losses) and Simpatekku bought it up. I heard something like that a while back. So, that´s bust again... btw, I wonder if they will close the Urasa (railway) station, too ... Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted June 15, 2011 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted June 15, 2011 The Sympathigue people bought the small Toyoda skijo a few years ago, yes. It's round the corner from the main Madarao Kogen resort on the Iiyama side. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Originally Posted By: Jynxx I wonder if they will close the Urasa (railway) station, too ... You mean the Urasa Shinkansen Station? Why would they do that? It as hardly there because of Urasa skijo! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Well, like you know, I´m just an old timer who doesn´t and hasn´t been living in Japan, as to know the scene. I have no idea why there´s a Shink station in Urasa. Would there be any other reason than the famous Urasa resort? For those who don´t know, Urasa is famous for: "The most hardcore ski school in Japan" and "The shitty snow that they advertise for - If you can ski well with us, you should have no problems elsewhere" Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I don't know exactly why there is a shinkansen station in Urasa. The main story I heard is that Urasa beat the more likely Muikamachi (too close to Yuzawa?) or Koide (needs too much of a turn?) because that Tanaka politician, who has a statue of himself outside the station, is from Urasa and he wanted one there. The massive station is certainly out of place in the very small Yamato town area, now part of 'Uonuma city' of course. But it certainly was not built because of the tiny Urasa skijo that has recently been attracting about 10,000 mostly local skiers each season. I know that for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Ah. Tanaka Kakuei I forgot about him. Station created by politician for his home town. Funny thing is, Tokku (special express) or Kyuko (express) trains don´t even regularly stop there. Like 1 in 14 stop there. I haven´t got off Urasa in donkey´s years, but I bet there´s not much there even after the bubble in the old days. Example, small street with shops and a shrine and it´s bush and mountain at the end of the main stretch... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 A quick look at the timetable shows me that usually 18 Shinkansens stop at Urasa on the way to Tokyo and 17 on the way to Niigata each day. I'd say that represented more like 1 in 3 shinkansens running on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, perhaps as little as 1 in 4. Definitely nowhere near as little as 1 in 14 though. Lets not exaggerating! Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 Had a look at the time table. Geez, things have improved. Sure did looked bad when only 1 in 14 Toki special express and 1 in 4 Sado express stopped even it is a Shink station. Now the Shinks are called Toki (max) ! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted June 15, 2011 Share Posted June 15, 2011 I don't know how far back you are claiming to go back, but the timetable has been pretty much the same for at least 15 years, very probably more. I know it opened in 1982 (the Shinkansen bit). Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Share Posted June 16, 2011 Wonder how many more stories like this we will hear before the snow arrives. I suspect more than a few. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 is that Sympahiqiggy one the big hotel on the left as you go into Madarao? Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Sad to hear that. Urasa, while very snow and not the best snow, has a long history and well known. It could not survive with such tiny numbers though - 150,000 to 10,000. That's just about 7% of what it used to be! Shocking. Makes you wonder who all those people were going there back then. Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hearing rumors of a few smaller places in Fukushima planning to give up for next season with that they feel might just be a losing battle. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Which places are those, fukdane? Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Unfortunately I didn't get any specific names Metabo, I think they were being 'respectful' or something. But not major places that would cause a shock or anything from what they said. I'll try to dig further. Link to post Share on other sites
Shermanator 0 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 What are the nearest ski places to Fukushima Daiichi anyway? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I guess the closest would be Adatara Kogen. Which I quite liked when I visited them this year. Hope they can hold on. Link to post Share on other sites
blinkin'ek 0 Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I can see resorts in Fukushima having a hard time. Real radiation worries or not. Sadly. Link to post Share on other sites
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